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Loading ...McDonald’s Caves In To Anti-Gay Group Demands
10.10.2008 1:05pm EDT
(New York City) The American Family Association is calling off a boycott of McDonald’s after the fast-food giant agreed to end its support for the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.
In addition, a company employee appointed to the chamber’s board of directors has resigned.McDonald’s incurred the wrath of the AFA after it made a $20,000 donation to the chamber, and Richard Ellis, who until last month was vice president of communications for the chain, was named to the chamber’s
board of directors.
The company at first resisted AFA’s demands that it sever ties with the chamber. In a July response to the conservative group that fights LGBT issues nationwide, McDonald’s Global Chief Diversity Officer Pat Harris said: "We have a well-established and proud heritage of associating with individuals and organizations that share our belief that every person has the right to live and work in their community free of discrimination."
But now in an e-mailed memo to franchise holders, the company said it has dropped ties with the chamber.
"It is our policy to not be involved in political and social issues. McDonald’s remains neutral on same-sex marriage or any ‘homosexual agenda’ as defined by the American Family Association."
Richard Ellis is no longer with corporate headquarters. He is now with the company’s Canadian operation.
The e-mail said that Ellis stepped down from the chamber’s board "voluntarily."
"We appreciate the decision by McDonald’s to no longer support political activity by homosexual activist organizations," the AFA said in a statement to its members calling off the boycott.
The AFA previously boycotted Disney for several year’s over its support for Gay Days at Disney World, although the company was not an official sponsor of the event.
It boycotted Cincinnati-based Proctor and Gamble over the company’s support for the repeal of a city charter amendment that prevented Cincinnati city council from enacting any laws that would recognize gays and lesbians.
The group boycotted Kraft for its support of the Chicago Gay Games and threatened to boycott Wal-Mart over its involvement with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.
The boycotts resulted in little impact on the companies.
The AFA boycott of Ford was heralded as a success by the organization which noted that it had resulted in a drop in sales and share value. But most financial analysts said that Ford’s problems were really the result of vehicle designs that failed to impress the public.
The conservative Christian group launched a nationwide boycott of Ford in 2005 over the automaker’s support for LGBT issues, briefly put it on hold, and then reinstated it.
The AFA claimed victory when Ford began pulling its ads from LGBT publications, but industry observers and the company said the ad pullout was part of a downsizing of expenses.
“We appreciate the decision by McDonald’s to no longer support political activity by homosexual activist organizations,” the AFA said in a statement to its members calling off the boycott.”
What hypocrisy! Now McDonalds supports political activity by fascist mentally and socially retarded religious fanatics. How much is their employee non-discrimination policy worth now? Goodbye McDonalds, hello Wendys!
Wow, what a cave in by the corporate hacks that run McDonalds. And what is part of “the homosexual agenda”…does it onclude simple non-discrimination in hiring and promotion. The cowards that run McDonalds will no longer get my $$$.
Shame on you, McDonalds! It looks like our diet will become healthier now that my husband and I will be dropping you from our eating establishments…. thanks for that if for nothing else.
Let’s get the word out folks: no more Big Macs for us.
Well, so much for buying Golden Arches chicken nuggets with Pink Bucks.
“It is our policy to not be involved in political and social issues. McDonald’s remains neutral on same-sex marriage or any ‘homosexual agenda’ as defined by the American Family Association.”
But from McDonald’s Corporate Web site:
“External Partnerships
At McDonald’s, we are committed to building our brand value and sustainable partnerships within the communities in which we do business. McDonald’s is proud to partner with national organizations such as Catalyst; Women’sFoodservice Forum; National Urban League; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; Organization of Chinese Americans; President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities; National Council of La Raza and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as well as other national and local community organizations.”
So when is McDonald’s going to announce it is ceasing to support any of the above??
Here is my letter I just sent off to corporate. Let’s see more voices speak up against McDonald’s stupid move!
Dear McDonald’s,
I read today in the news about your decision to not renew your membership with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and your decision not to fill the spot Richard Ellis left after his resignation.
The AFA is heralding this a success. They are claiming that they’ve beaten your corporation into bowing down to their message of hate.
During AFA’s boycott, I chose to eat at your restaurants more, but after hearing this disheartening news I would like to inform you that I will no longer be eating at any of your restaurants until you can show that McDonald’s is a place I should be “lovin’”.
There is no “Homosexual agenda” and including that term in your memo to your franchise holders is offensive. The AFA, however, has an “agenda” of hate and discrimination.
Every year, true equality is gaining a stronger foothold and discrimination based on sexual orientation is lessening.
Which side does McDonald’s want to be remembered being on? Love and Equality or Hate and Discrimination?
I hope McDonald’s renews its support for equality.
Thank you for your time,
XXX
Shame really. When I heard about how they were standing up to the AFA fukwits I made a deliberate effort to eat more often at McDonalds instead of other fast-food restaurants. On one of my days off I’d stop in for coffee, hasbrown, and a couple breakfast burritos. Guess that’s going to have to change.
I won’t be eating at McDonals anymore and I will be letting them know as much -not that they will care at all - but if enough GLBT people point out they are doing the same - they might listen. It isn’t a loss for me personally as McDonald’s is crap food anyway - but these corporations need to know that they cannot cave to people like the AFA because it emboldens their hateful work.
Instead of fuming about this development, try getting proactive!
This is the e-mail i have sent to McDonalds Corporate headquarters:
For the last forty years, I have been a loyal customer and supporter of McDonalds, but based on your decision to support The American Family Association and end your support for the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, I hereby inform you that I will no longer patronize your Restaurants, your Franchise Restaurants or support your Ronald McDonald House Charities, and will encourage my friends and family to do the same. You have made a deal with the devil, and caved into pressure from a hate mongering organization, and I hope you choke on your Big Mac’s. Wishing you nothing but the worst in these terrible economic times…
“The ‘Gay Agenda’ has indeed been revealed, and it bears a remarkable resemblance to the U.S. Constitution.” ~Donna Minnis
Well, I’ve had my last Big Mac!
This decision by McDonald’s coincides well with the diet I just started. No food within 100 feet of any golden arches.
Maybe it’s time to boycott McDonald’s. I am really disturbed by their lack of backbone.
Good Bye Mc Donalds!